Viruses
Not everyone has had the unfortunate opportunity to have their
computer being attacked by an electronic virus. Most people will have
heard of it though, as oftentimes these malicious programs are
mentioned in the news.
If you've never encountered a virus, you
may be all too convinced it's all not that bad, and that you are well
protected. Well, don't count on that. You could be under attack by a
stealth virus... The recent Conficker
virus is an example of that. The virus has been waiting for
instructions for a long time, while being installed on many computers.
Recent reports show that it is now being actively used to send spam and
install spyware. Be
sure to check the list of removal tools
for this virus. If you use windows update regularly you should have
nothing to worry about, since last month's update also fixed this virus.
As a business owner operating a website you can
be assured that the server running your software is much safer then
your home PC. Still, if your website isn't affected, your home or
office PC could be. And worse, you could be spreading the virus by
email. Of course, if we notice your emails contain viruses, we will
inform you of this.
Steps to stay safe:
- Purchase and install a proper virus scanner (McAfee, Norton, AVG are some names)
- Regularly perform software updates, particularly Windows Update.
- Do not open attachments unless you are sure it's from a known sender, and you have run a virus check on it.
Hoax emails
Hoax emails are much less dangerous then viruses. A hoax is more of
a joke, made to just scare you. Since hoaxes are often forwarded by
unknowing recipients to many of their friends to warn them of the
risks,they tend to spread virally and can move real quick.
Searching google for the subject of the email and the term 'hoax' will quickly show you whether you are dealing with a real threat or a hoax. If it's a hoax, just reply to the sender and give them the address of the page explaining the hoax.
More info
